What is 3D Video?
3D Video, also called Stereoscopy, is video material filmed by 2 cameras, similar to human visual systems. You are using 2 eyes to see real objects in 3D.
How do I create 3D Video Content?
2 identical video cameras
position them exactly side-by-side to simulate human vision.
Can I also create 3D content with 1 camera only or from existing video material?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: there are experimental solutions to calculate a 3D view from only one camera or movie. This does not work well (yet), and only for moving images.
How is 3D video processed?
The most used digital video format is simply a video with 2 views side-by-side in one video frame. This material can easily be stored to disk as video files or streamed over networks.
How does it work with nanoStream software?
nanoStream supports 2 camera input devices. It supports live recording and streaming of side-by-side material and other 3D formats.
Example setup:
2 Full HD video cameras connected to 2 video capture devices, each 1920×1080 pixels
nanoStream software to combine both views to 1920×1080 side-by-side for Full HD encoding
optionally rescale it for internet streaming, for example to 1440×720 or 640×480.
encode and save or stream the resulting material
playback the material with a 3d-enabled video player
What do I need to really view 3D video material?
Although some few high priced autostereoscopic displays do exist, most setups need 3D glasses and a special display or beamer technology.
Currently 2 major variants exist:
Polarization Displays, making use of passive glasses (as used in most movie theatres)
Shutter Displays, as used in 3D gaming, provided by nvidia or TV sets.
Which software do I need to playback 3D material?
nanocosmos provides a 3D Stereoscopic Player which can be used to display 3D video material on different output devices.
Is it difficult to handle 3D video?
Generally, yes. Although the minimal setup is quite simple, there are some issues which need to be seen:
Camera position: both cameras should be calibrated to really view the same scene. A special 3d video rig might be required.
Hardware interfaces: you need 2 video capture devices which work identically in one system. Minimal setups are working with 2 USB cameras. HD based system need HD-SDI or HDMI capture cards. Blackmagic Decklink hardware can be used with some systems.
Encoding and Streaming Performance: The encoder software needs to grab 2 videos at the same time, combine them and encode in realtime. This requires higher CPU resources than 2D video
Playback Hardware: special playback hardware + glasses are required
Which playback hardware should I use?
Although nanoStream is independent from the 3D display hardware, we recommend polarization displays or beamers. The displays are working in line-by-line interlaced polarisation mode. Beamers need a special screen.
Pro polarization:
- Simple setup
- Simple inexpensive “passive” glasses
Con polarization
- reduced monitor resolution (not with beamers)
Currently most 3D TV sets only support shutter glasses (frame sequential mode).
Pro shutter:
- full resolution possible
Con shutter:
- expensive “active” glasses
- only full screen
- flicker sensitive and dependent on room lights